14 October 2011

TriQuint launches integrated DVGAs with wide gain control, low noise and high efficiency and linearity

At European Microwave Week (EuMW 2011) in Manchester, UK (11-13 October), RF front-end product and foundry services provider TriQuint Semiconductor Inc of Hillsboro, OR, USA has launched a family of broadband, digitally controlled variable gain amplifiers (DVGAs) that combine high linearity, gain and output power with a low noise figure and a broad range of output gain control. The integrated products are internally matched at 50 Ohms and can reduce bill of materials (BOMs), increase efficiency and reduce overall costs, claims the firm. The new DVGAs suit public safety, 3G/4G wireless base-station transceivers, remote radio heads, point-to-point microwave links and satellite communications terminal applications, it adds.

The TQM8M9075, TQM8M9076, and TQM8M9077 combine a high-performance gain block with a precision digital step attenuator to amplify input signals in 0.5dB steps from 0 to 31.5dB based on commands delivered through a 6-bit serial control interface. They can be used in the IF and RF sections of a receiver to amplify or attenuate incoming signals, especially to levels desirable for analog-to-digital converters. They can also be used in the transmit chain to vary gain levels to amplifier stages.

A broad operating range of 500MHz to 4GHz and integrated performance advantages make the DVGAs suitable for many wireless communications systems, enabling RF designers to use one device across multiple applications, says TriQuint. Their noise figure (as low as 2.9dB) and high linearity (OIP3 up to 38.5dB) can be critical to ensuring the best possible overall performance, it adds. In addition, their attenuator accuracy (0.3 + 4% of attenuation setting) provides precision gain control throughout their 31.5dB range.

The TQM8M9075, TQM8M9076 and TQM8M9077 operate from a single 5VDC power supply at currents of between 87 and 125mA, have an operating temperature range of -40oC to +85oC, and have a minimum mean-time-to-failure (MTTF) of 1000 years at a mounting temperature of +85ºC.

Samples of the three new DVGAs as well as evaluation boards are available now.

Tags: TriQuint DVGAs

Visit: www.triquint.com